More than 900 Black actors respond to racist comments directed at Black, ‘Romeo and Juliet’ co-star: ‘We want to send a clear message’

After announcing the role of Francesca Amewudah-Rivers in Shakespeare’s play, the actress faced excessive hate on the Internet.

More than 900 black women and non-binary actors have condemned the racist backlash against actress Francesca Amewudah-Rivers, who is ready to star in a production of Romeo and Juliet in London’s West End.

By following announcement after Amewudah-Rivers was forged as Juliet opposite Tom Holland’s Romeo, she was quickly met with online hate and a barrage of racist comments. In response to online harassment, a whole bunch of Black female performers signed a letter of solidarity this week criticizing digital abuse and extending their support to Amewudah-Rivers and other Black female performers who’ve faced heavy criticism.

“The racist and misogynistic abuse of such a lovely soul was unbearable,” the letter said. “Announcement of casting for a play that is intended to incite such twisted, horrible abuse is truly embarrassing for those who are so empty and sterile in their lives that they have to intrude on hateful abuse. Too often, Black actresses – especially Black actresses – face a storm of online abuse after committing the crime of finding work on their own.”

Actress Susan Wokoma (from “Enola Holmes”) and playwright Somalia Nonyé Seaton (“Crowning Glory”) initiated an open letter, which collected almost 900 signatures from outstanding artists. Lashana Lynch (“No Time to Die”), Sheila Atim (“The King of Women”), Marianne Jean-Baptiste (“Secrets and Lies”), Lolly Adefope (“Ghosts”) and Freema Agyeman (“Doctor Who”) amongst those that signed the agreement.

Last week, Romeo and Juliet producer Jamie Lloyd Company issued a statement in response to the negative reactions, calling for an end to the criticism. At the time, the corporate’s statement didn’t name Amewudah-Rivers as a subject.

“Following the announcement of the cast of Romeo and Juliet, a wave of deplorable racist attacks against a member of our team appeared online.” statement To read. “This has to end.”

Amewudah-Rivers’ previous credits include appearing within the BBC series “Bad Education” and three short movies. Her theater experience includes “Macbeth”, “Antigone”, “Othello”, “Animal Farm” and “An Ordinary Miracle”.

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